HOLP! I am tired of making the same things over and over and over. I need a few new recipes. Something even slightly picky kids will eat. If you have any ideas...send them here: Dawnsmail@iwon.com Chicken and vegetarian meals are welcome....and anything for cold weather would be appreciated. We pretty much live on soups, stews and chilis in the winter. Thanks!

Stolen from Susan, who stole it from her Sis


Firsts and Lasts

*[FiRsT's]*

First best friend: Lillian

First kiss: Stephen in the fourth grade. First REAL kiss...Jeff.

First screen name: CMiGo

First funeral: My Daddy's, I was 12

First album: I don't know the name, but it was Sesame Street and I LOVED Rubber Ducky

First pets: My beagle Missy...who we had to leave in Germany cause of quarantine reasons....my second pet...LOL..Missy 2. I was 3...I needed continuity.

First piercing/tattoo: Do the lick and sticks from Cracker Jack count?? I was 4

First big trip: I don't remember my first, I flew from Germany to California when I was a babe.

First flight: See above.

First time skiing: I have never snow skiied, I did try water skiing in 10th grade.

First concert: Rick Springfield was my first Big concert. I had been to the Christian punk band UnderCover though several times before.

First job: Babysitting. I only made $2.50 and hour but I saved alot of money the summer before my senoir year.


*[LaSt'S]*


Last car ride: coming home from my date with Bill last night.

Last kiss: Again, last night...

Last time you cried: Boy I was busy last night...

Last movie you watched: Flight Plan with Jodie Foster....guess when

Last food you ate: A candy pumpkin. I like fall.

Last love: Hmmmm...as if you have to ask. Bill, of course

Last temptation: That second bowl of pasta at Olive Garden last night.

Last item bought: I bought a few new shirts and a pair of heels at Mervyn's yesterday.

Last annoyance: I have a teenager...nuf said.

Last shirt worn: A North Carolina State t-shirt.

Last concert: My school's Spring Recital.

Last phone call: Calling my daughter to see when she would be home from the county fair.

Last time at the mall: Yesterday. Clothes...remember?? LOL

UGH~ I don't know why, I don't know how it happened, but I have an irrational fear of the dentist. I mention this because today, I am going to see dreaded dentist. Now, this particular dentist has been nothing but nice, makes sure I have enough novacaine, always tells me ahead of time what will be happening. Does it matter?? NOPE~ I literally get cold and clammy as he works on my. My blood pressure shoots straight through the roof and I leave knowing that I will have follow-ups...cause I almost always manage to have a cavity no matter how much I brush. HOWEVER< it's time I be a grown up and stop avoiding the issue, I am not getting any younger and I will need my teeth in the future. Sometiems I really don't like being a "grown-up"~

YAY! I was allowed to leave early today. I also finished one of the five reports that are due no later than October 5th. I have another almost finished and a third awaiting signatures to be complete. I'm hoping in the next 3 days or so to be completely finished. I love starting back to school, as far as teaching goes, but I really don't like the annual reports that are all due the same day. Of course, I am sure there is someone in Sacramento just fearing the day the reports all arrive as it is their job to review and file. LOL~

Today was a good day all the way around. My class was so well behaved I almost thought I was in the Twilight Zone, the weather was (and is) primo, and I am getting closer to that shore I alluded to a few posts ago. I take it one day at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time. It's getting easier~

You can tell Bill and I have known one another a very long time. We bought one another cards a few weeks apart...I set mine aside as I had picked up several at the same outing...he bought his over this past weekend. I decided the time was right to give him his and added my sentiments to it then tucked it in his briefcase. I called him at work to see if he had found it. He laughed and asked where had I gotten it...I told him it was purchased earlier. He told me he had the same card for me. Chalk to up to great minds thinking alike??

I'm off to Jix to see if we are getting close to our mini-goal.. I want a Misty story tomorrow~~~

Stolen from just about everyone~

A - Accent: If it's possible to blend these...I've been told I have both a "California accent" and a southern one. Bill says I'm more southern when I am mad~
B - Bra size: Um...NOT telling~
C - Chore you hate: Unloading the Dishwasher
D - Dad’s name: Daddy was Wade...my Stepda is Harry.
E - Essential make-up: I don't wear it.
F - Favorite perfume: Beautiful
G. - Gold or silver: Gold
H - Hometown: I grew up all over the US and Europe. I would have to say my hometown is where I have spent the longest amount of time...here in Bakersfield, Ca
I - Insomnia: Yes, even though I am always tired
J - Job Title: Lead Teacher/Secretary/Asst Director...jack of all trades,pay of none~
K - Kids: 2 daughters and 1 son.
L - Living arrangements: House
M - Mom’s birthplace: Burbank, California
N - Favorite Noldo: Favorite what??
O - Overnight hospital stay: Last time was when I had my son...almost 10 years ago.
P - Phobia: Heights
Q - Favorite quote: (right now) Never make someone a priority in your life, when you remain an option in theirs.
R - Religious affiliation: I'm rethinking my religious choices.
S - Siblings: One brother and one sister
T - Time you wake up: 6:35 a.m.
U - Unnatural hair colors: I'm to boring for that.
V - Vegetable you refuse to eat: Brussel sprouts
W - Worst habit: Only one???
X - X-rays: going Wednesday for dental ones.
Y - Yummy foods you make: I like my country fried steak meal and my bruscetta
Z - Zodiac sign: Cancer

You know, sometimes it's eerie how accurate those quizzes can be. Today is humming along nicely. The children in class were behaving today, even the one who is causing my gray hairs. My own children got up fairly easy today...and I made a decision to something that has been bothering my for quite some time. I KNEW the right answer..I just didn't follow through before. I have to follow through if I am to move forward and be happy. Please pray for me to stay strong and not be pulled back under what has basically been a riptide in my life. I'm tired of swimming and being swept futher away. It's time I set foot back on shore.

As seen at Aleta's blog...


You actually don't unlock anything; you're the
winding key for an old grandfather clock. Few
people know how important you are unless you
aren't there, but there are a few who treasure
you all the time. You help people keep moving
forward, but you also help them through the
present by reminding them of the past.

What sort of key are you and what do you unlock?
brought to you by

Stopping in...I've been away for awhile. I have been busy with work and home and kids and feeling so tired I an barely drag my butt out of bed. But me, being me, I keep pushing on.

I'm really not into horoscopes but the one I read for myself today..it just fit so well. It mentions I'm stuck in a rut...and I have the power to get out of it. I am just not precisely sure how to go about it. I like aspects of my job...I don't like making my boss look good though, and I spend 1/2 of my day doing just that.

Today she recopied a list that she has recopied at least once a week since school started...and I did all of the finances,banking, filed, made copies, dealt with parents (she left early again), seperated and put out a book order, did the online duties, picked up children from public school, put out and picked up snack to the classrooms and started one of the state reports that is due at the end of the month. Oh and she handed me another pile of pages and said I could file them when I got around to it. Yes, I am the secretary, but I literally do her job for her. Everyone knows it. Including parents that have been enrolled with us these last few years. She is just working to keep her insurance. Which means I have roughly 2 years, 8 months and 3 days until she retires...but I'm not counting or anything~~ LOL~

I'll try and keep up a bit more...even though I am pretty sure my life is enough to bore someone to tears.~